Merkel in US for SHOWDOWN with Trump as she begs for trade tariff exemption for EU

Merkel in US for SHOWDOWN with Trump as she begs for trade tariff exemption for EU

ANGELA Merkel has arrived in Washington to speak to Donald Trump in the attempt to persuade the US President to offer a permanent trade tariff exemption to the EU following the announcement of potentially crippling levies on steel and aluminium announced in March.

Unlike Mr Macron, who has been dubbed “the Trump whisperer” for his ability to get closer to the US president than any other world leader, the relationship between Mr Trump and the German Chancellor is set to be less warm and more business-driven.

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Angela Merkel is set to meet Donald Trump on Friday

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Angela Merkel and Donald Trump will discuss about tariff barriers

The vital issue of tariffs will have to be discussed in a 20-minute meeting in the Oval Office, together with the Iran nuclear deal.

The Coordinator for Transatlantic Cooperation in the Foreign Office, Peter Beyer, said that Ms Merkel could have more success with Mr Trump if she worked in tandem with Macron.

He said: ”There are common goals and a coordinated approach, even if Macron and Merkel perform different roles.

"Macron is a little closer to Trump on a personal level."

But the majority of Germans are pessimistic over the relationship between Germany and the US.

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Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron spoke about a 'sincere friendship' following Macron's visit

A poll surveying 13,892 people showed that more than two-thirds believe that the relationship between Germans and the United States is rather getting worse (47.3 per cent) or significantly worse (20.8 per cent), as an online survey by the pollster Civey on behalf of the Funke media group revealed.

Only 5.7 per cent think the relationship will improve soon or significantly.